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i c-’  C-  / ^ cl — S , 

M ^ w ^ \ I 


THE  CROSS-ROADS 

OF  THE  PACIFIC 


Rev.  Rowland  R.  Dodge 
W ailiiku,  Maui,  T.  H. 


American  Missionary  Association 

287  FOURTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK  CITY 


DISTRICT  OFFICES: 


Eastern  District 
14  Beacon  Street 
Boston,  Mass. 


Western  District 
19  South  La  Salle  Street 
Chicago,  III, 


Pacific  District 
21  Brenham  Place 
San  Francisco,  Cal. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/crossroadsofpaciOOdodg 


The  Cross-Roads  of  the  Pacific 

Rev.  Rowland  B.  Dodge 
\\  ailuku,  Maui,  T.  H. 


IN  the  midst  of  the  great  waste  of  Pacific  waters,  two  thousand 
miles  from  San  h'rancisco,  lie  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  They  are 
separated  from  Samoa  by  twenty-three  hundred  miles  of  ocean, 
from  Aukland  by  thirty-eight  hundred  miles,  and  by  an  additional 
thousand  from  Manila  and  Hong  Kong.  Here,  in  the  cross-roads  of  the 
"lonesome  Pacific,’’  nestles  this  group  of  eight  inhabited  and  several 
uninhabited  islands.  Mere  dots  they  are  on  the  world  map.  Their  total 
area  is  only  6,405  square  miles.  Yet  because  of  their  location  and  re- 
markable strategic  value  they  play  an  imj)ortant  role  in  international 
relations. 


■- 


The  Pali 

In  physical  history  the  Hawaiian  group  forms  the  summits  of 
enormous  volcanic  cones,  which  rise  from  an  ocean  depth  of  eighteen 
hundred  feet.  Add  to  this  high  lofty  mountain  of  nearly  fourteen 


thousand  feet  altitude,  and  the  result  is  that  here  in  the  mid-Pacific 
are  to  he  found  the  greatest  single  elevations  on  the  earth’s  surface. 

h'xtending  in  all  nearly  four  hundred 
miles  in  length,  these  islands  lie  in  a 
pretty  straight  line  from  southeast 
to  northwest.  The  oldest  in  time  lie 
to  the  north ; Hawaii,  the  largest, 
lying  farthest  south,  is  still  in  the  pro- 
cess of  making  through  its  two  active 
volcanoes.  On  each  of  the  group  re- 
mains of  ancient  craters  are  to  be 
found.  On  the  oldest  erosion  has 
done  its  work  in  ages  past,  until  to- 
day only  the  hardest  of  the  lava  re- 
mains. This  takes  the  form  of 
pinnacles  and  minarets  of  fascinating 
designs.  On  the  five  largest  islands, 
thousands  of  acres  of  the  richest  soil 
have  been  formed  by  the  action  of 
Lahaina  Cocoanuts  water  upoii  decaying  lava.  This  de- 

posit is  often  of  great  depth.  Because  of  their  location  just  within  the 
tro[)ics,  the  islands  are  abundantly  supplied  by  the  fruits,  vegetables 
and  farm  products  of  tropical  and  semi-tropical  countries.  A wonder- 
ful variety  of  vegetation  is  to  be  found. 

Illimitable  stretches  of  water  separate  the  Hawaiian  Islands  from 
the  Arctic  ice  fields  of  the  North  and  likewise  from  vast  arid  stretches  of 
any  continent.  They  are  fanned  continually  by  the  cooling  trade 
winds.  Hence  the  climate  of  this  ocean  group  is  delightful.  It  is  never 
hot  and  never  cold.  The  extreme  maximum  temperature  on  record 
in  Honolulu  is  89  degrees,  the  extreme  minimum  54  degrees.  The 
mean  of  last  year  was  75  degrees.  In  the  mountains,  however,  severe 
cold  is  experienced  by  the  traveller  at  all  times  of  the  year.  At  an 
altitude  of  from  three  thousand  to  five  thousand  feet  the  climate 
resembles  that  of  early  fall  in  New  England. 

h'ach  island  has  its  wet  and  dry  sides.  Between  these  remarkable 
differences  are  to  be  found.  At  the  town  of  Lahaina,  on  the  dry  side 
of  Maui,  for  instance,  the  rainfall  was  so  slight  as  not  to  be  recorded 
in  the  tables  of  the  last  annual  report  for  the  islands.  At  Keanae,  on 
the  rainy  side,  287.41  inches  fell, — a record  that  is  one  of  the  high- 
est in  the  world.  On  one  side,  the  mountain  above  the  irrigated  cane 
field  will  he  hare,  on  the  other  a tropical  jungle  and  abundant  water- 
falls are  to  be  found. 


4 


(irass  Ilousr.  Typical  Group 

I'or  the  Student  of  ethnology  and  history,  Hawaii  is  a fascinating 
held,  d'he  native  people,  incorrectly  called  hy  the  American  tourist 
“kanaka"  (a  generic  term  and  means  simply  “man"  or  “mankind”), 
are  in  racial  characteristics  and  language  undoubtedly  Polynesian  in 
origin.  Many  interesting  theories  have  l>een  advanced  as  to  how  the 
l>eople  of  1 lawaii  found  their  permanent  abiding-place.  Tall  in  stature, 
finely  built,  possessing  an  intelligent  face  and  a good  carriage,  the 
I lawaiian  makes  a striking  appearance.  Remarkably  adaptable  to 
foreign  influences,  of  great  natural  ability  and  ingenuity,  fond  of  games 
and  jirond  of  his  nation,  the  Hawaiian  has  made  for  himself  a 
nniijne  jilace  in  history.  Unable  nn fortunately  to  withstand  the  dis- 
eases and  vices  of  civilization,  the  pure  native  has  rapidly  decreased 
in  numbers  until  today  he  is  less  than  25,000  in  all.  Captain  James 
Cooke,  the  discoverer  of  the  islands  in  1778,  estimated  the  population 
as  400,000.  This  figure  is  probably  too  high.  In  1841  a rather  careful 
estimate,  that  of  the  missionaries,  showed  a total  of  U?0,000. 

It  is  impossible  to  speak  a single  word  concerning  the  history  of 
I lawaii  during  the  last  ninety-five  years  without  recording  the  most 
remarkable  change  that  has  ever  come  over  any  one  nation.  Aside  from 
cannibalism,  of  which  the  natives  were  never  guilty,  the  worst  kind 
of  heathenism  existed.  All  this  has  been  changed  to  the  best  Chris- 
tian civilization  can  give.  The  transformation  came  about  in  less 
than  fifty  years. 

People  now  living  in  the  islands  tell  how  the  natives  used  to  gather 
in  public  assemblies  with  the  scantiest  loin  cloth  about  their  naked 

5 


The  Alexander  Farsonat^e:  House  of  tin-  Missionary 


bodies,  of  their  difficulties  in  the  use  of  clothing  and  money,  and  of 
their  efiforts  to  learn  to  read  and  write.  A stranger  today  meeting 
the  cultured  Hawaiians  in  Honolulu  can  hardly  believe  that  five  years 
must  yet  pass  before  there  can  he  celebrated  the  one  hundredth  anni- 
versary of  the  burning  of  the  idols 
by  the  people  themselves,  which  hap- 
l)ened  some  months  before  the  arrival 
of  the  first  missionaries.  It  was  just 
about  this  time  that  the  frightful 
system  of  taboo  was  overthrown, 
heathen  customs  largely  given  up,  and 
a nation  without  a religion  gladly  W’el- 
comed  the  first  representatives  of  the 
American  Board.  Kamehameha  the 
Great,  who  died  just  the  year  before, 
had  succeeded  in  uniting  all  the  islands 
under  his  rule.  Thus  the  bloody  wars 
in  Hawaiian  history  had  largely 
ceased  before  the  forces  of  civiliza- 
tion had  begun  their  work.  A re- 
markable historical  event  took  place 
in  1823,  when  Princess  Kapiolani  be- 
gan the  overthrow  of  fire  worship  by  a deed  as  brave  as  that  of  the 

prophet  Elijah  at  Mount  Carmel.  Wooden  idols  had  already  been 

burned  by  national  edict,  yet  the  superstition  that  the  volcano  of 

Kilauea  was  controlled  by  Pele,  the  fire  goddess,  still  held  the  people. 

Kapiolani  bravely  gathered  berries  sacred  to  the  goddess  and  threw 


0 


them  into  the  burning  pit.  For  this  alone  her  death  was  expected 
by  her  attendants.  She  then  went  down  close  to  the  glowing  lava, 
and  turning  to  her  followers  said,  “Jehovah  made  these  fires.  I fear 
not  Pele.  Great  is  the  goodness  of  Jehovah  in  sending  missionaries 
to  turn  us  from  these  vanities  to  the  living  God.” 

In  1825  the  Ten  Commandments  were  adopted  as  a basis  of  law  for 
the  nation.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  at  the  very  time  of  the  wonder- 
ful ingathering  of  35,000  converts  to  the  membership  of  the  churches 
after  long  probation,  that  the  Hawaiian  king  and  his  nobles  gave  civil 
rights  to  his  170,000  subjects.  This  all  happened  about  1840.  Six 
years  later  the  last  relics  of  feudalism  were  abolished  by  the  so-called 
r.and  Act,  by  which  the  King  gave  up  all  his  crown  lands  and  made 
the  people  owners  of  the  soil.  All  land  grants  in  Hawaii  today  go 
back  to  the  royal  patents  then  issued. 

A series  of  unfortunate  political  disturbances  kept  successively 
following  in  the  royal  household.  This  would  naturally  be  the  case 
in  such  a small  country,  where  kingly  power  had  meant  so  much,  and 
where  now  the  common  people  were  more  and  more  becoming  educated 
and  democratic  in  their  tendencies.  In  1874  the  Legislature  elected 
David  Kalakaua  king.  Through  his  visit  shortly  after  his  coronation 

to  the  United  States  a re- 
ciprocity treaty  was  ar- 
ranged, which  was  renewed 
in  1887.  The  story  of  what 
happened  from  that  day  on, 
Kalakaua’s  treachery,  his 
death  in  San  Francisco,  the 
reign  of  his  sister,  who 
is  still  living  and  highly 
honored  in  Flawaii,  Queen 
Liliuokalani,  and  gradual 
dissatisfaction  with  the 
monarchy,  can  be  cpiickly 
told.  In  1894  the  Republic 
was  formed.  Sanford  B. 

: Waihiku  Union  Church  Dole  was  made  President 

and  a Legislature  of  two  chambers  formed.  By  resolution  of  Congress 
of  the  United  States  passed  July  7th,  1898,  the  Hawaiian  Islands  were 
formally  annexed  by  August  12th  the  same  year,  and  became  the 
Territory  of  Hawaii.  All  citizens  of  the  Republic  at  the  time  of 
annexation  were  made  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  Terri- 
tory. 


In  the  matter  of  educating  her  people,  Hawaii  has  always  held 
high  ideals.  From  earliest  days,  her  schools,  at  first  private,  and  later 
also  public  under  the  care  of  the  government,  have  been  excellent.  In 
connection  with  Lahainaluna  school  the  first  printing  press  west  of 
the  Rocky  iMountains,  was  set  up.  Here  the  oldest  newspaper  in  the 
W'est  was  printed.  It  is  today  known  as  “The  Friend.”  This  school 
was  a model  for  General  Samuel  C.  Armstrong  in  his  wonderful 
educational  .system  at  Hampton.  ^lany  excellent  boarding  schools 
have  industrial  education  as  their  special  aim.  In  all  these  schools 
the  religious  influence  predominates.  Growth  of  character  is  sought 
as  a prime  requisite  in  education.  English  is,  of  course,  the  only 
language  used  in  all  these  institutions.  They  are  in  reality  training 
camps  for  American  citizens.  With  more  than  one-third  of  the  total 
poj)ulation  Japanese,  nearly  another  third  Hawaiians.  Portuguese,  and 


CliiiU'Sf  Women.  Wailukn 


Chinese,  and  the  balance  American,  Korean,  Spanish.  Filipino,  Porto 
Rican  and  all  other  races  that  are  found  in  Hawaii.  America  must 
depend  upon  her  schools  to  Americanize  her  people  in  this  Territory. 

The  Church  is  doing  a noble  work  among  most  trying  conditions. 
The  American  Board  began  the  task,  when  it  was  supported  by  all 
denominations  in  New  England.  The  direct  result  is  a magnificent 
union  work  throughout  Hawaii  in  which  all  denominations  of  Chris- 

8 


tians  unite.  One  out  of  every  twenty-two  persons  of  the  total  popu- 
lation is  a member  of  our  Union  Church.  This  work  the  American 
Missionary  Association  is  generously  aiding  each  year.  The  propor- 
tion of  gifts  by  the  members  of  these  churches  for  missionary  work 
in  all  departments  is  not  less  than  an  average  of  $15.00  a member  each 
year.  Side  by  side  with  us  and  in  most  cases  upon  the  friendliest  of 
working  arrangement  stands  also  the  Roman  Catholic,  Episcopal  and 
Methodist  Churches,  all  of  whom  began  work  after  the  American 
Board  had  opened  the  field.  These  churches  in  most  cases  have 
definite  fields  of  work  in  various  communities.  The  Methodist  Church 
has  as  its  special  field  the  Koreans  on  the  sugar  plantations. 


Wailukii;  Sunar  Cano  in  Forouround 


Many  young  Chinese  and  Japanese  are  reaching  the  age,  when 
they  have  the  right  to  vote.  With  a deep  sense  of  the  obligations  of 
.\merican  citizenship  they  voluntarily  have  been  coming  to  leaders 
in  Christian  work  in  the  Islands  and  asking  for  citizenship  classes. 
( )f  late  the  men  prominent  in  Japanese  national  and  educational  circles 
have  been  urging  their  young  countrymen  in  Hawaii  who  will  have 
the  right  to  vote  to  learn  all  they  can  of  America  and  become  good 
citizens.  “Become  true  Americans,”  say  these  leaders.  Alany  a 
Japanese  who  has  no  right  to  citizenship  according  to  American  laws 
at  present  in  force  has  said  to  the  writer,  ‘T  would  be  so  happy,  if  I 
could  vote  as  an  American  citizen.” 

Thrust  immediately  upon  all  our  religions,  philanthropic  and  edu- 
cational institutions  of  Hawaii  is  the  task  of  educating  young  men 
of  foreign  birth.  They  are  coming  to  us  in  overwhelming  numbers 
The  duty  that  America  is  facing  within  her  own  mainland  borders  and 

9 


so  nobly  fulfilling,  is  in  Hawaii  an  imperative  obligation.  The  Church 
in  America  must  send  into  that  Mid-Pacific  Territory  the  best  the 
country  can  produce  as  trained  leaders. 


Group  in  Front  of  Lupi-r  Church.  Molokai 


In  the  past,  great  men  have  been  trained  in  Hawaii,  men  who  are 
now  doing  their  work  there.  But  the  future  must  bring  to  the  prob- 
lems in  Hawaii  even  more  men  who  are  taught  to  take  the  message 
that  America  has  of  peace  and  good  will  to  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

One  hundred  years  ago  Humboldt  predicted  that  the  greatest  mari- 
time commerce  on  the  planet  would  be  carried  on  through  Pacific 
waters.  The  prophet  of  religion  of  today  has  his  eyes  on  Hawaii 
as  the  key  not  only  to  this  commerce,  but  also  to  future  international 
relations.  The  idea  of  the  brotherhood  of  man  is  no  experiment  in 
our  “Isles  of  Peace.”  Hawaii,  at  the  cross-roads  of  the  Pacific,  has 
proved  to  America  and  to  the  world  that  the  representatives  of  many 
nations  can  here  live  at  peace  with  one  another.  The  Church  of 
America  must  help  Hawaii  to  continue  to  prove  that  the  true  American, 
no  matter  from  what  race  he  may  have  sprung,  is  that  American 
who  lives  above  the  meanness  of  national  jealousies  and  regards  every 
man  the  world  over  as  his  brother  in  Jesus  Christ. 


10 


